Standing on the Promises

I am continually struck that those who so despair of Pastor Calvin have simply never read his commentaries. One of my favorite devotionals is one from DayOne that is a collection of the writings, mostly from his commentaries (the following one from his commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke) pulled together by Joel Beeke, who is speaking at the Bolton Conference this year. I find Calvin's thoughtful and careful study of the text an important reminder that we stand on the shoulders of other believers, like Mary, when we by faith take hold of God's promises and see how they do not depend on people but on Him. I am also continually struck with how immediately something written in the 1500's about something written in the first century AD is relevant to my day by day walk. The following bears, I think, much reflection.

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke 1:45

The truth of God does not depend on the will of men. God always remains true to his promises even if the whole world of unbelievers and liars attempts to ruin his veracity. Yet, as unbelievers are unworthy to obtain the fruit of the promises, so Scripture teaches us that by faith alone these promises are powerful for our salvation.

God offers his benefits indiscriminately to all, and faith opens its bosom to receive them, while unbelief allows them to pass out of reach. If there was any unbelief in Mary, that could not have prevented God from accomplishing his work in another way that he chose. But Mary is called “blessed” because she received by faith the blessing offered to her. Faith opened up the way to God for its accomplishment. Unbelief, on the other hand, shuts the gate and restrains God’s hand from working that they who refuse the praise due to [faith’s] power may not feel [faith’s] saving effect.

We must observe also the relationship between the Word and faith. For we learn that, in the act of believing, we give assent to God, who speaks to us and holds for certain what he has promised that he will do for us. From the Lord has the same meaning as the common expression “on the part of God,” for the promise brought by the angel proceeded from God alone. Hence we see that whether God uses the efforts of angels or of men, he wishes equal honor to be paid to his Word as if he were visibly descended from heaven.

Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke by John Calvin